Overview
Dr. Joel Nelson is a Minnesota native who received his bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from Gustavus Adolphus College before moving on to his medical training in Des Moines, Iowa. He then spent 4 years completing his ophthalmology training in Miami, FL at Nova Southeastern University. The last stop of his training was at the University of MN to specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of corneal disease. He is one of the only surgeons in Central Minnesota performing a variety of corneal transplant techniques, including PKP, DSEK, DMEK, and DALK. He has also been specially prepared to surgically manage intraocular lens dislocations using the intrascleral haptic fixation technique. In addition to corneal surgery, Dr. Nelson also has emphasis in his practice on the surgical treatment of cataracts and LASIK surgery. He is one of the few surgeons in the state certified to implant the new iStent Inject Micro-Bypass device for the management of glaucoma at the time of cataract surgery.
Beyond work, Joel enjoys spending time camping, hiking, and gardening with his young family.
Dr. Nelson is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Presbyopia. His top areas of expertise are Cataract, Neurotrophic Keratitis, Glaucoma, Adult-Onset Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy (AVMD), and Cataract Removal.
His clinical research consists of co-authoring 6 peer reviewed articles. MediFind looks at clinical research from the past 15 years.
Insurance
Accepted insurance can change. Please verify directly with the provider.
Accepted insurance plans:
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- POS
- PPO
- HMO
- INDEMNITY
- POS
- PPO
- OTHER MANAGED MEDICAID
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- OTHER MEDICAID
- STATE MEDICAID
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE PDP
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE SNP
- HMO
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- HMO
- POS
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER MEDICARE
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
Locations
2055 15th Street North, St. Cloud, MN 56303
Additional Areas of Focus
Dr. Nelson has provided the following conditions as areas of focus. Please note that we may not have enough data to validate their experience in some of these conditions.
Clinical Research
Clinical research consists of overseeing clinical studies of patients undergoing new treatments and therapies, and publishing articles in peer reviewed medical journals. Providers who actively participate in clinical research are generally at the forefront of the fields and aware of the most up-to-date advances in treatments for their patients.
Centracare Clinic
Shannon Cabrera is an Ophthalmologist in Sartell, Minnesota. Dr. Cabrera is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Presbyopia. Her top areas of expertise are Presbyopia, Dry Eye Syndrome, Cataract, and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). Dr. Cabrera is currently accepting new patients.
Northwest Eye Clinic LLC
Timothy Ehlen is an Ophthalmologist in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Dr. Ehlen is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Presbyopia. His top areas of expertise are Nearsightedness, Cataract, Presbyopia, and Astigmatism. Dr. Ehlen is currently accepting new patients.
West Metro Ophthalmology PA
Adam Gess is an Ophthalmologist in Golden Valley, Minnesota. Dr. Gess is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Presbyopia. His top areas of expertise are Cataract, Presbyopia, Hereditary Keratitis, and Dry Eye Syndrome. Dr. Gess is currently accepting new patients.
Areas of Expertise
MediFind evaluates expertise by pulling from factors such as number of articles a doctor has published in medical journals, participation in clinical trials, speaking at industry conferences, prescribing and referral patterns, and strength of connections with other experts in their field.
Learn more about MediFind’s expert tiers
- Advanced
- CataractDr. Nelson isAdvanced. Learn about Cataract.
- Experienced
- Adult-Onset Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy (AVMD)
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD)Dr. Nelson isExperienced. Learn about Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD).
- AstigmatismDr. Nelson isExperienced. Learn about Astigmatism.
- Cloudy CorneaDr. Nelson isExperienced. Learn about Cloudy Cornea.
- Cone DystrophyDr. Nelson isExperienced. Learn about Cone Dystrophy.
- Cone Rod Dystrophy Amelogenesis Imperfecta